Upwork permanently suspended me after I was hacked even after their own Security team confirmed the unauthorized access. Need help.
I am devastated and need advice from this community.
Here is the full timeline of what happened:
May 13, 2026:
An unknown device logged into my Upwork account without my knowledge
That person added a Visa card ending in 2499 a card I have never owned
A $75 payment was charged to that fraudulent card
That same person then filed a chargeback on that payment
This triggered my account suspension
I had absolutely no idea any of this was happening until I received the suspension notice.
What I did after:
I immediately reported it to Upwork as unauthorized account access
I provided screenshot evidence of the unknown device login and the fraudulent card being added
I changed my password and enabled two factor authentication
I completed full identity verification which was accepted by Upwork
What Upwork did:
The Account Security team investigated and confirmed the unauthorized access
They lifted the security hold on May 20, 2026
They said remaining suspensions were being escalated to another team
Then on May 21, 2026:
I received a permanent suspension notice from Trust & Safety
The reason given was "Terms of Service violation"
No specific violation was mentioned
The decision was declared final
I am a freelance B2B copywriter from Pakistan. Upwork is my primary source of income. I have worked hard to build my profile, reviews and reputation on this platform. I did everything right reported the hack immediately, cooperated fully, verified my identity and still got permanently suspended as the victim.
Has anyone experienced something similar? Were you able to get your account reinstated? Any advice on how to escalate this further would be greatly appreciated.
I am also planning to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Is there anything else I can do?
Please help. 🙏